Profile Evaluation

[wkhawaja]

Hello. Here is a brief profile snapshot:

GPA: 3.7 finance undergrad top 20 US university, 2006 grad
GMAT: 710 (Q85%; V81%)
WORK EXP: almost 6 yrs by 2012 enrollment
- 2 yrs investment banking bulge bracket
- 1.25 yrs private equity (got laid off when financial turmoil hit wallstreet)
- 2.5 yrs corporate development M&A at fortune 20 company
EXTRA CIRCS: several community svc activities
RECCS: likely to get top reviews
LEADERSHIP: can speak to various work and community svc related leadership initiatives and roles
DEMOGRAPHIC: asian american

kindly offer an assessment of my chances at the following schools:

stanford, harvard, booth, berkeley, columbia, ut-austin

i get the feeling MAYBE i will be a competitive applicant to this list of schools, provided i can make a case to distinguish myself from other applicants but i want to gauge your view as well. my prime concern is my work experience will be b/w 5.5-6 yrs by 2012 enrollment...knowing that the absolute top programs like stanford and harvard prefer 4-5 yrs at most of work experience. i see my gmat may be borderline average for those two programs as well but knowing that i can't see myself getting any higher than 730, should i retake? also please suggest what should be some key areas i should address in my application to maximise chances of success. stanford is my top choice, columbia is my main realistic target. thx a lot.

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi wkhawaja,

Thanks your post. You have a great feel for your profile and where you stand in the applicant pool. While you have a profile that is on par with what the schools on your list are looking for, you do have a couple of areas that could perhaps be improved.

Your GMAT score is below average for the schools on your list as well as compared to similar applicants in the pool. Bschools won't necessarily be concerned about your ability to perform in the classroom (especially given your undergraduate major/GPA and work experience), however, they will note that your score is lower than your peers. While it's not low enough to take you out of the running for these schools, it is low enough that you'll be expected to compensate for it in some other part of your application.

This brings me to my next point - your extracurricular activities. You mention you have them, but not what they are or your level of involvement. It would be great if you had an activity or two where you've had significant team or leadership experience. This is a great way to ensure your essays give a broad picture of who you are as a person, not just a business professional. This is especially important for schools like CBS, Stanford, and Haas. These schools spend a lot of time selecting candidates who "fit" with their culture and community.

Be sure to find ways to interact with the schools on your list. Visit if possible, if you can't visit look to attend info sessions or other events in your area. Spending time with school community members (or alumni) is a great way to learn more about the schools and this information can be used in your essays to demonstrate your interest in the program.

Please feel free to send your resume to [email protected] for a free detailed assessment.

Best,

Stacey